This Sunday we begin Part Three in our examination of Jesus. Sunday we will touch on the central themes of his life; He was a teacher and I'll focus on His "I Am" Statements in John and "The Sermon on the Mount" in Matthew. He was a healer and His healing ministry involved a wide spectrum from the poorest of the poor (as found in the Shepherds at the manger) to the riches of the rich (Wise Men). I'll touch on his centricity on prayer and solitude as both a time of healing and a time of searching. His statement about New Wine in New Wineskins is also important to us as He created a different kind of community - one we continue to seek and practice today. He was a confronter and we need to focus on that as well. I know it seems like a lot yet it will give us the foundation for every other message coming up over the series. If these were the central pieces, what happened to them as history surrounded this Anointed One once he was gone? And how might we respond in the midst of the history we're living today? And so we begin Part Three of a study of Jesus. To prepare please read Matthew 5: 1 - 20.

Ministry News

Tree Cutting Work Party

January 9

Bring your chain saws, pruners, wheel-barrows and trucks to help us cut up and remove the fallen tree branches on Saturday, January 9 from 8:30 to noon.

Bible Sunday

January 10

All 3rd and 4th graders will receive Bibles from the church during both worship services. They will then take part in an 8-week "Getting to Know Your Bible" Sunday School class taught by Colleen Olleman. If you have a 3rd or 4th grader who would like to receive a Bible, please contact
Jen Hoerber.

VBS PlanningJanuary 11Yes, It's time to start planning for Vacation Bible School, the best week of the year! A VBS planning meeting is set for January 11 at 5:30. There will be a light dinner available. The goal for this meeting is to discuss and choose curriculum, set dates and set a planning schedule. If you are interested in helping with VBS, please attend this meeting or contact Jen Hoerber if you are unable to attend so she can bring your thoughts and ideas to the team. Let's get ready for VBS 2016!

Parent Discussion Group

Starts January 24th

We are forming a discussion group that will focus around all things parenting. Parenthood is a journey with all kinds of surprises, twists, and turns and being able to come together and openly talk about all of it with other parents is so important. We will be meeting in Smith Hall during Education Hour (
10:00am-10:50am)
on Sunday mornings starting on the
24th of January.

Electronic Giving

Leave your checkbook at home. Give electronically instead!

"Are you considering e-Giving? I say - Why not! Give it a shot! It's very easy to do and I can stop or change my giving anytime I want. After a lifetime of writing the weekly check, I decided to give to Aldersgate the same way I pay my bills - online. I find it's safe and secure. Email me if you need some reassurance! I'm in Aldersgate's online directory."

- Joe (and Madeline) Lee

We would love for you to get started! Please click here for the authorization form or click here to sign-up online now.

News From AUMC Kitchen Team

Did you know? We will have a ductless heating system in the new kitchen, similar to the one that is in the youth room. This will allow us to warm the kitchen on cold winter days and cool it when we're cooking in the summer.

Resource Library News

Whomever removed Lee Strobel's book "The Case for Christ" from the library, please return it as soon as possible. This book is on the list of primary resources for Pastor Brad's Jesus study. It needs to be officially entered into the library database and assigned a call number so it can be checked out properly. Please remember, to check out a book from the library, fill out the library card found in the inside of the book cover and place it in the black mesh box on the library mobile cart.

Drivers Needed

If you think you might be able to help provide transportation occasionally for folks who need help getting to appointments, please contact Laura Wall. We would like to build a resource list of drivers.

2016 Fundraisers

Is your group planning to hold a new fundraiser or continue an annual fundraiser in the new year? If so, please email your fundraiser name, proposed date(s) and method of solicitation to Melinda Lilley, Finance Team Chair. All fundraisers are approved by the Finance Team to insure that dates do not overlap, that the overall yearly fundraising calendar remains reasonable and well spread out, and that fundraisers adhere to the Fundraising Policy which is posted outside the church office.

Fun Events

Yoga Class

Got a New Year's resolution? Vince Fratello can help with his introductory series of yoga classes at Aldersgate after the New Year. The classes will be taught at the most basic beginner level and will be organized to accommodate all body types and physical abilities. Class 1 always starts at the beginning so don't worry. If you have any concerns, ask someone who has already come! The series will tentatively be ten Saturdays starting January 9 to March 26, excluding the two Saturdays of Presidents' week
. Class time will be 9:00-10:15am. Students will be asked to bring a sticky
yoga mat (ask if you are unsure) and Vince will supply the rest of the props. The cost will be $50 per student for the entire series to cover Vince's expenses-you can try out the first class with no financial commitment and scholarships are available if needed. If you have questions you can contact Vince. We hope to see you there!

Young Adult Retreat @ Camp Twinlow

February 15-18

Join us for a weekend full of worship, fellowship, and battleship (or whatever you find relaxing). Check in will start at 4:00pm on Saturday however, feel free to come Friday night and stay and enjoy the day skiing, exploring, shopping in Coeur d'Alene, or relaxing here at camp. Sunday will have scheduled workshops, small group time, worship sessions, and of course free time.
Meals are provided from Saturday dinner through Monday breakfast as well as lodging Saturday & Sunday night (extra charge for lodging Friday night). Cost is $120. Click Here for more information. If you want to carpool, contact is Katie Olleman.

Youth Group (6th-12th Grade)

Join us Sunday evenings for Youth Band (5:00-6:00pm) and Youth Group (6:00-8:00pm) in the Youth room, #24.. If you have any questions, please contact the Youth Directory
Nick Laasanen.

Upcoming Youth Activities:

Jan. 10 - Youth Band and Youth Group

Jan. 17 - Youth Band and Youth Group

Jan. 23-24 -
Youth Lock-In Join us overnight from 5:30pm Saturday, January 23 to 10:00am Sunday, January 24. We will worship together, and play games. Parents, if you are wanting to help out, please fill in as many areas as you are available in this sign up:

Youth Camps & RetreatsThere are a number of Youth camps and retreats coming up. If you are interested in attending winter camp, the Convo Retreat, or the SUMYT Retreat, you will find more information as well as registration forms at:

ConfirmationConfirmation classes for youth will be offered in 2016. If you are interested in having your child go through confirmation, please fill out this doodle survey http://doodle.com/poll/tatwv273ics6thui so we can have a better idea of who and how many people will be joining us.

Outreach & Missions

UMW Bake Sale ResultsWe are pleased to announce that the bake, craft and quilt sale raised $2,016 for our UMW mission projects. The money was disbursed to the following agencies:

Youthcare (Seattle)

Sophia Way

Mary's Place

UMCOR

Congregations for Kids (Bellevue)

We also paid our apportionment to the District UMW whose charities include Deaconess, Tacoma House and Atlantic Street Center.
We thank the whole congregation's for their support, not only in providing bake goods and wonderful craft projects but also for your faithful support in buying all the items.

Bingo Night

Bingo night at Andrew's Glen is growing in popularity! Aldersgate provides dinner for residents on second Mondays, followed by bingo. Carolyn Shaul has been working with Karen Yellman in enabling this Aldersgate ministry. Thank you, Carolyn, for helping this program grow to involve more residents! Carolyn and Bill Shaul are moving soon to be nearer their families. Go with our prayers for a joy filled new life!

Steward Park Project

Monday, January 18

Join the fun on the
Martin Luther King Day of Caring, Monday, January 18th
, from 10:00am-2:00pm at theSeward Park Audubon Center - Bird Habitat.Come one, come all. Bring the whole family! Kids as young as 2 years old are welcome.Dr. King showed us the connection between the health of our environment and the health of our communities. Honor his legacy on this day of celebration, growth and renewal. Get involved in protecting our fragile urban forest and making sure all families and animals have safe, beautiful spaces to work, live and play. On this day, we plant native trees and shrubs in the meadow overlooking Lake Washington. Tools, gloves, training, snacks and coffee provided. High school students are eligible for four service credit hours. Carpools will leave Aldersgate at 9:30am to caravan to Seward Park. Email Janice Zahn if you are interested or have any questions.

Syrian Refugee Health Kits

The children and youth are having a coin drive and collecting items for Syrian Refuge health kits through January. Please donate to the coin drive through one of the children or in one of the marked boxes in Friendship Hall and and the narthex. If you would rather donate actual items, they can be dropped off in the bin located in Friendship Hall. Thank you in advance for your help and support of this project.

Throughout January, the children and youth will be learning about this mission during Kids's Club and Youth Group. The youth will be shopping for the items with the money collected with the coin drive during their retreat and the children and youth will help pack them to be delivered t
o Medical Teams International in Redmond, WA. Contact is Jen Hoerber, 425-299-4996.

*Roland Schmidt, a former member of Aldersgate, passed away recently in

December. His wife Marinell died earlier this year. Please pray for their family.

People with Health Concerns

*Carol Cubilie's son Tim

*Colleen Flower's friend Terry and relative John

*Cindy Wheeler

*Betty Fredeen

Additional Prayers

*Missionary Katherine Parker

*Nita & Zane Daniel

*Jeff & Cindy Wheeler

*The people of Begi, Ethiopia

Submit prayer requests to Dorothy Bennett, the Prayer Chain Coordinator, or fill out a pew prayer card or contact the church office. Prayer requests will stay on the Prayer Chain for about 3 weeks. Please contact Dorothy or the church office with an update if you want the request to be prayed for longer.

All prayer requests will appear in the church newsletters unless you specifically request otherwise.